Cartoon capers

the guide caught up with artist BF Khilnani, a 92-year-old Pune-based artist and cartoonist who was recently awarded for his achievements

It’s no mean achievement to win an award, and it becomes doubly special when you are 92 years old. Pune-based artist and cartoonist BF Khilnani was recently honoured with an award for his work by a respected Sindhi organisation.

BF Khilnani

Says Khilnani, “I am glad to win this award. More than awards, it is important that one gives respect to the cartoonists. It is a very good art form and people feel that making cartoons is easy but it is not so.”

Cartoon by BF Khilnani

Khilnani was also the first Principal of Jai Hindi School, Pimpri. A multifaceted personality, he rues that the present education system should undergo a change as it does not give importance to the right things Going back in memory lane, Khilnani recounts how 15 years ago, he participated in an all-India caricature contest and won a prize for his very first attempt — a caricature of singer Lata Mangeshkar.

“All the celebrities whose caricatures I made have been appreciative and I am happy about it,” states Khilnani. He has compiled an album featuring 80 of his paintings and cartoons, which include caricatures of Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, and Shahrukh Khan to name a few.

Not one to rest on his laurels, even at 92, you can catch him writing something or making a painting. He admits that the secret of his good health lies in his passion for his hobbies.